Blues vs Jackets | 02-18-09

Another game that is impossible to describe how big it is. Seven points behind Columbus and a win tonight and regulation loss for Nashville ties us for 13th. Road games are rough, especially against a tight checking, defense first team. Blues have to have puck luck to make this work. Keep the legs moving, quick transition and second chances against the “other” Mason.

Columbus seems to be king of the pure luck goal against St Louis, the defense needs to take care of Mason and the front of the net.

Game Quick Hits:
Winchester-Backes-Boyes line looks very good. Physical play, creating chances and causing trouble. I wonder how this line creates scoring chances with out a true play maker, but they do well.

Horrible game in the face-off circle. Might be time to put McDonald back at Center. Maybe play Berglund a couple shifts on the wing? Berglund is stringing together quiet games. He needs something to get him going.

Bad officiating. Why was that Penalty called by the Ref abut 100 feet from the play and his view of Jackman was obstructed by about 5 other players. The missed offside on the Nash goal. Two goals from poor officiating.

The Blue Jackets kept good pressure on the Blues Defencemen, really exposing the Blues below average transition. Oh where are you EJ? Jackman did not play a good game, out of position multiple times. Absolutely stupid penalty on the play with Boll. The blue line was not good at all. Mason was hung out to dry most of this game. Most fans will blame Mason, however the lack of faceoff wins in our zone and poor defensive play really doomed Mason. The  blue line was exposed and looked sluggish all night.

Steen has played poorly of late. Nice touch scoring a SHG, but his overall game hasn’t been much better tonight vs the last 4-5.

I love Oshie, but please save the fancy stuff for the Offensive zone. When he tries that in his own end, its been read and broken up each time. Hardworking game and way to capitalize for the Blues third goal.

Is it a bad thing if I have yet to be impressed with Steve Mason? Not really coming up with big saves against the Blues at least. By product of the team his is on.

The Blues power play was pathetic till the 3rd Period. One thing I would love to see the Blues do that they don’t is rotate the players on the point. Meaning move Colaiacovo to the right point as Perron drifts around behind him to set up a one time. Pittsburgh used this a lot last year with Gonchar and Malkin eats it up now. Colaiacovo has the shot (Perron is developing it as well) to take form that opposite side. It can’t hurt to try.

Was nice to see Holt finally get some time on the ice.

Recap:
You have to play 60 minutes in the NHL, the Blues barely played 20. Grant it the 20 they played were good, but they completely failed to set any pace on the road. Thre defence hung Mason out often this game. The Blues were only able to work forward at all once Columbus sat back in the third.

If anything the Blues poor transition play was highlighted tonight. The Blues were really held in the back half of the nuetral zone and their zone for two periods. Jackman, Strachan, McKee are just not mobile enough in the post lockout NHL. Wagner has been generally poor (See the 2nd goal) and hasn’t been able to be anything close to what he was before the broken leg.

More than anything not taking a point is disappointing. Nashville will likely lose to Detroit tonight, allowing the Blues to waste a chance to tie Nashville. Tomorrow night should have been a chance to get to 59 points and get above Nashville. That chance is gone and they must pull along side Nashville tomorrow.

Blues vs Hawks | 02-13-09

Game Recap:
There is no way to effectively write how important this game was to the Blues. Coming off two horrible 3rd period performances, the Blues had to have a full 60 minute effort. No excuses, period.

Hawks/Blues games are always chippy and overly physical, its as close to some old school hockey as we can get anymore. You know the teams are going to be safe, checking tight and applying lots of pressure. Which can tend to favor the road team, allows them to stay close and sneak away with points. The Blues had to match the intensity of the Blackhawks, who are getting up for this game as well. Not just because its the Blues and Hawks…but because they are trying to finish in the Top 4 for home ice, which can be huge in the 4 vs 5 Match up in the 1st Round.

I thought the Blues were able to get pressure pretty well (forecheck and backcheck). However, there wasn’t a ton of sustained offensive pressure, which I think is a problem the Blues have. They are unable to really put together 2-3 consecutive shifts down in the other teams end. This is partly to do with the corps of defensemen being down to its 11th man. The Blues can effectively move the puck forward when they work at it, however, that inability allows teams to get back and set up. The lack of offensive ability on the blueline also hinders play once in the zone, being bale to keep it in or get a shot through. Given that handicap the Blues did a good job of getting the puck down in the Hawks end, just not for extended periods.

I thought the defencemen played their best game in the last two weeks. Colaiacovo had multiple pass intercepts and started the play back up ice. Woywitka had a couple good plays defensively. Wagner wasn’t horrible and Weaver was as good as he has been before taking a couple games off. After two mediocre games, Jackman played well. Jackman logged 25 minutes and had 3 hits, 7:29 of his 15 minutes were on the PK. Jackman’s physical play has been there always, but the stick play and positioning was improved from at least the last two games. Jackman’s play against Kane and Toews this year has been good, holding them to very little in terms of point production.

The Blues have lived and died by special teams the last two seasons. The Blues won based on the Power Play and the Penalty Kill. The Blues had some very poor calls go against them, especially late in the 3rd. I have to say I like the idea of Berglund seeing PK time. His size and reach combined with his soft hands should lead to good pressure on the point players. It also keeps him in the game, which is important in his learning experience when his 5v5 play is average at best at times. While his offensive game may seem to struggle point wise, his defensive and off the puck play has gotten better. Still not a number one Center, which is fine given the McDonald extension.

Oshie as the #1 Star baffled me a little. His first period he had good position on multiple plays, yet couldn’t execute. His play improved in the 2nd and 3rd periods, but not enough to garner the top star. He played very well on the PK and moved the puck around as well as anyone else, but still not enough to be the #1 Star.

I’m starting to lean my point of view on the Backes line towards breaking it up. I like Winchester, I really do. He is showing he can be a capable 3rd/4th line LW this year. However, that line is sorely missing a play-maker. Boyes can be mildly effective in the role, but it would be much better to maximize his finishing ability. I think its time to move Winchester to the 4th line LW and put Perron up with Backes and Boyes till McDonald can return to Center. Perron has shown what needs to be shown in 3 games on the “4th Line”, its time to put him back on a line he can get 15 or so minutes a night.

Mason, where to start. He made some very big saves when he needed to. They were much bigger than the should have been because once again the Blues provided Mason with one goal of support. It makes for an interesting and exciting game, but I’m sure Chris would rather win 4-0 than 1-0. Manny has been doing well down in Peoria, but Mason has still played well enough to garner all the starts this point on. I was a little surprised to see him in net, but throwing Holt out there vs Chicago in a big Saturday night game could have turned out very bad. With the Blues off Saturday and Sunday and not playing till Monday when the Rangers come to town, playing Mason worked out fine. However its very possible Holt is called on Wednesday night vs Columbs so Mason can play the two Nashville games on the 18th and 21st.

The Blues got the job done last night. They looked like the team from the 6-1-3 run, instead of the team who dropped the two before last night.

This game means what?
After two dismal breakdowns on Tuesday and Thursday, the Blues had to win tonight without giving up a lead. Which they were able to accomplish. Big confidence and morale booster to beat the Hawks 1-0 in a physically challenging game.

With Colorado losing in regulation, the Blues are now 2 points ahead of them, putting Colorado in the cellar. The Blues are 6 points out of 8th, 5 out of 9th, and 2 out of 10th.

With the Blues out of action tonight the Blues can only hope for the follwing:
Calgary beats Phoenix in regulation.
Edmonton loses to LA (keeps Edmonton at 58 points and LA has 57 then)
Boston beats Nashville in regulation.
Ottawa beats Minnesota in regulation.
Chicago beats Dallas in regulation.

That keeps the Blues two points behind Nashville and Phoenix and keeps Edmonton from getting 60 and moving in to the top 8. Yes it does allow LA to get 4 points ahead of us, but in my opinion we need Edmonton to stay out of the top 8 more than LA taking two points. Should be an interesting two days of scoreboard watching till Monday night.